Method of washing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10704182-B2
Application number	US-201715428271-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 9, 2017
Priority date	Feb 11, 2016
Publication date	Jul 7, 2020
Grant date	Jul 7, 2020

Abstract

A method of delivering a flexible water-soluble unit dose article to the drum or drawer of a fabric washing machine or to an automatic ware washing machine, comprising the steps of; a. obtaining a unit dose article in a container, wherein the container is configured to allow one unit dose article to be ejected from the container at a time; b. positioning the container near the drawer, drum or other reception point; c. ejecting the unit dose article from the container directly in the drum, drawer or other reception point; d. removing the container from the position near the drawer, drum or other reception point; e. initiating the wash operation of the fabric washing machine or automatic ware washing machine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of delivering a flexible water-soluble unit dose article to the drum or drawer of a fabric washing machine or to an automatic ware washing machine, comprising the steps of:
a. obtaining a plurality of unit dose articles stacked on top of each other in a tube-shaped container, wherein the container is configured to allow one unit dose article to be ejected from an opening of the container at a time, the opening being recloseable by recloseable means,
the recloseable means being in the form of a lid which can be removed and replaced by a consumer;

b. positioning the container near the drawer, drum or other reception point;
c. ejecting the unit dose article from the container directly in the drum, drawer or other reception point;
d. removing the container from the position near the drawer, drum or other reception point;
e. initiating the wash operation of the fabric washing machine or automatic ware washing machine.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein items to be washed are added to the fabric washing machine or ware washing machine before addition of the unit dose article to the drum, drawer or other reception point, or wherein items to be washed are added to the fabric washing machine or ware washing machine after addition of the unit dose article to the drum, drawer or other reception point or a mixture thereof.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein a user does not touch the unit dose article at any point during the method.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the container comprises an actuation means to enable the release of a single unit dose article.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the actuation means is a mechanical means, an electronic means or a mixture thereof.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the actuation means comprises a mechanical means, wherein the mechanical means comprises a push or pull, turn, squeeze or spring mechanism or a mixture thereof.

7. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the actuation means is a manual actuation means.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the articles have a non-symmetrical shape.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the unit dose article has a height, a width and a length, wherein,
the maximum length is between about 2 cm and about 5 cm wherein the maximum width is between about 2 cm and about 5 cm;
the maximum height may be between about 2 cm and about 5 cm.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein
the maximum length is between about 2 cm and about 4 cm.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein each individual unit dose article has a weight of between about 10 and about 40 g.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein each individual unit dose article has a weight of between about 15 and about 35 g.

13. The method according to claim 1 wherein one or more sides of the unit dose article have a radius curvature.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the unit dose article comprises a water-soluble film defining at least one internal compartment and a cleaning composition contained within said compartment.

15. The method to claim 14 , wherein the cleaning composition is a liquid cleaning composition.

16. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the unit dose article comprises at least two compartments.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the unit dose article comprises at least three compartments.

18. The method according to claim 1 wherein the opening is arranged so that the unit dose article exits the container vertically, diagonally, horizontally, or any angle between horizontal and vertical.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein the opening is arranged so that the unit dose article exits the container vertically.

20. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the at least two compartments are arranged in a superposed orientation.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Keuleers Robby Renilde Francois
• De Malsche Katrien
• Degeyter Raf Gustaaf Alfons
• Saint-Ignan Katy

Classifications

• D06F35/006 Primary

  for washing or rinsing only · CPC title

• D06F39/026

  the powder or tablets being added directly, e.g. without the need of a flushing liquid · CPC title

• A47L15/4463

  Multi-dose dispensing arrangements · CPC title

• B65D25/54

  Inspection openings or windows · CPC title

• C11D17/042

  Water soluble or water disintegrable containers or substrates containing cleaning compositions or additives for cleaning compositions · CPC title